Combo Nursery Techniques for Mine Reclamation: Appropriate Growing Media and Polybag Sizes

Image: article cover, from Febrian et al. (2021), Jurnal Wasian, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

A research team from IPB University tested the combo nursery technique, which involves planting seedlings of meranti tembaga (Shorea leprosula), gamal (Gliricidia sepium), and Brachiaria decumbens grass in a single polybag to support the reclamation of former mining land. The study, published in Jurnal Wasian in 2021, was conducted by Febrian Ari Nugroho, Irdika Mansur, and Arum Sekar Wulandari from the Faculty of Forestry and Environment at IPB University. The aim was to find the growing media composition and polybag size that could reduce competition among the three plant species.

The results showed that growing media compositions of soil and compost at ratios of 1:1 and 1:2, combined with polybag sizes of 20 x 20 cm and 25 x 25 cm, significantly reduced competition and improved the growth of meranti tembaga and the number of Brachiaria decumbens tillers. There was no significant interaction effect between media composition and polybag size. In other words, the two factors acted independently in influencing plant growth.

These findings are important because reclaiming former mining land often involves nutrient-poor soils. Placing the main crop, fast-growing species, and cover grass in a single container can be a practical way to prepare seedlings before field planting. For forest communities and farmers, this technique offers a simple guide to media mixtures and container sizes that can be used to prepare reclamation seedlings.

Source and how to cite

This story is based on the research article Growth of Shorea Leprosula Seedlings Prepared in Combo Nursery Technique to Support Mine Reclamation by Febrian Ari Nugroho Febrian, Irdika Mansur Irdika and Arum Sekar Wulandari Arum, published in Jurnal Wasian Vol. 8 No. 1 (2021). The full article is free to read on the Jurnal Wasian website.

Cite the original article (APA 7):

Febrian, F. A. N., Irdika, I. M., & Arum, A. S. W. (2021). Growth of Shorea Leprosula Seedlings Prepared in Combo Nursery Technique to Support Mine Reclamation. Jurnal Wasian, 8(1), 37–46. https://doi.org/10.62142/hc38nm72

If you use these findings in coursework, a thesis or other writing, cite the original article above, not this news story. The original article is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.